How Do Small Businesses Get Office Space?

Although the pandemic has seen an increase in people working from home, there are still many benefits to office working. Perhaps you own a small business and are looking for an office to accommodate your needs? Maybe you’re not sure where to start looking or what’s suitable for your business space. With the monthly cost of renting an office space ranging drastically, making the move can seem intimidating.

Fortunately, we are on hand to help you make an informed decision and remove the stress when finding the appropriate office space for your small business.

What are the benefits of leasing an office space for a small business?

Although the idea of renting an office might seem daunting, there are many factors that could benefit you and your business:

• Allows you to separate work from home to give you a better work life balance
  
• Provides a space for collaborative working
  
• Provides a professional space for client meetings
  
• Furniture, internet, onsite facilities are provided
  
• Easier to upgrade office space as your company size increases

How to find the right office space for your small business

Before signing off on your lease, it’s essential to consider all your options and ensure you plan ahead to avoid making any wrong decisions. Here’s a list of the steps you should take to make that informed decision.

1. Evaluate your needs

Firstly, you’ll need to evaluate what it is required for your office, taking various factors into consideration such as:

1. The number of employees – you should consider how many employees you have in the present, but also how many you are likely to have in the future to ensure you have sufficient space for employees to work collaboratively as your business grows.
   
2. The type of work that will take place within the space – depending on your business, you may want to opt for an open plan space, or one with areas for private working.
   
3. If you are going to hold client meetings – you may want to ensure you have space to install a small meeting room or a designated space for client meetings.



The style of office required may differ between businesses, so it’s important to make sure you’ve considered your specific requirements to make the search for your dream office that little bit easier.

2. Pinpoint your ideal location

Next, you should consider the best location for your business and consider factors such as the accessibility for employees and clients, local amenities and transport links. Depending on the regularity of client visits, your office may not need to be located in the city, so you may choose to opt for an office in the countryside. Rural office spaces often come with a whole host of benefits such as:

• Financial savings
  
• Reduced noise pollution
  
• Improved staff wellbeing
  
• Reduced commute times
  
• More inside and outside space

Although out of the city, it’s still worth taking into account your local transport links to ensure ease of access for any clients or employees.

3. Finalise your budget

After taking into account the previous steps, you should now create a budget, calculating how much you are willing to spend per month given the size of your business and your current profit. You should also consider other costs such as utility costs, maintenance fees and other expenses to determine a realistic budget.

4. Find the office facilities to meet your requirements

Now you’ve covered the three key factors that can assist you with your decision, it’s time to start evaluating your options. You should look at the facilities that the small office spaces offer and make a decision based on whether these match your criteria. Some facilities to look out for include:

• Communal kitchens – useful for storing food and drink, or for a quick coffee break
  
• Showers and Toilets – having showers onsite will mean you could walk, run or cycle into work and get ready before heading into the office.
  
• Onsite café – some business parks will have an onsite café which can be the perfect place for a quick break or for a lunchtime meeting.
  
• Parking spaces – ample onsite parking means no one will be left with nowhere to park and is perfect for any clients if they are visiting
  
• Meeting spaces – having a larger professional space equipped with TV’s and HDMI sockets for client or all company meetings
  
• Internet – it’s important to have a stable and fast internet connection as you will most likely be relying on this every day.
  
• Heating and cooling options – England isn’t exactly known for having the most stable weather, so having flexibility to heat and cool your room accordingly is beneficial.

Decide if you want/need all of these facilities and then begin looking for the relevant space you need that fits into your budget.

5. Get in contact

You might still be unsure on your options so it’s always worth getting in contact with office space owners for further information. We understand it’s a lengthy process and an important decision so it’s always better to be safe.

From there if you are happy with the information provided, you can address your interest and begin negotiating a contract until an agreement is signed and you are ready to move into your new office.

Find offices to rent for small businesses

Situated in the beautiful Surrey countryside, Tanshire Business Park features three office buildings with a variety of small office spaces to rent, perfect for small business owners. All our offices can be tailored to your business requirements and are equipped with fast 100 MB/S internet speeds and have access to our range of onsite facilities.

For more information, visit our availability page, or call Jonathan at 07841 397151 or email at jonathan@tanshiremanagement.co.uk.